Chinese cemeteries in Thailand
(icosha / Shutterstock.com)
Thais generally have themselves cremated after their death. The urn filled with ashes can then be kept at home or in a special spirit house or bricked into a temple wall somewhere, according to financial possibilities and religious needs.
Yet there is a large group of Thais who prefer burial: Chinese people or rather Thai of Chinese descent. Everywhere in the country you see vast areas with small hills, in which a semicircular tombstone. One of the most beautiful I can remember is the Governor's Graveyard in Ranong. But you don't have to go that far.
(Claudine Van Massenhove / Shutterstock.com)
Chinese cemetery in Chonburi
Closer we have giant ones Chinese cemetery in Chonburi. Thousands of graves, all in neat rows on an area of several square kilometers. We drove through it once on a car rally and then I noticed a beautiful old entrance gate. On a recent visit I couldn't find it and a monk who happened to be walking around told me that the old gate has been replaced by a new one. I don't know if I should believe him, but I can't find the old one. The graves almost all have the same appearance, although the colors differ every now and then. You also see different formats, because even after death there is of course a class society.
In the meantime I have attended many cremations here. Never a funeral. That is probably because I have no wealthy Chinese in my circle of acquaintances. I look forward to it, but fear that my own cremation will take place sooner.
Incidentally, the Chinese cemetery described above can be found west of Chonburi near Nong Ri. Maybe someone will find the old gate.
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I myself found one in the area of Doi Saket (Chiang Mai).
Hundreds of small mounds with a marble (memorial stone, altar) on one side.
It was a bit of a shock to find this between the flat rice fields.
There was no beautiful entrance gate to be seen here.
Only a building that could serve as a waiting room and where there was a water supply
used to be. For the rest, the cemetery gave a very desolate, belated impression.
But the burial mounds, tombstones were all very well cared for.
It was definitely something different to discover on my countless scooter trips in and around Chiang Mai.
For the enthusiasts in Bangkok: there is a very large Chinese cemetery on Soi Wat Prok. Access via Sathorn Tai, Soi Charoen Rat 1, or via Thanon Chan, Soi 32 (some zigzagging) This cemetery also has a beautiful entrance gate and the whole is also a park and is used by many people for jogging and Taichi etc. An oasis in the middle of the city. Nearby you have the church of St Louis and the papal nunciature, the largest Hindu temple in Bangkok and a mosque with a cemetery. In short, a pretty multi-religious piece of land in Buddhist Thailand. And unlike elsewhere in the world, they don't quarrel there.
I was very surprised when I unexpectedly saw a Chinese cemetery in Hua Hin.
Very special to see.
Where is that cemetery Cora?
In Hua Thalae, part of the municipality of Korat, there is a fairly large Chinese cemetery, located next to the supermarket Tesco Lotus 2.
I lived in that neighborhood and I noticed that the funerals with accompanying party with tents and food were always on a Sunday.
since my wife is Sino/Thai I have already experienced Chinese funeral rites and they are different from the Thai because after the Theravade monks do their rites, there is a Mahayana monk doing the rites, he is alone and one can really hear a pin drop at that moment , which is not the case with the Theravade rites. Before the prayers begin, the close relatives dress in a kind of jute clothing with.
With the real Rich Chinese, the rites last for days at a time. one not only dresses in jute but also wears a jute top hat. and there is Chinese theater and tours . This all happens in the Sala.
Chinese Buddhist rites mainly take place in Wat hualonphong. You can go there and have a look, the rites normally start around 20 pm. High-ranking Thais are also cremated there; if they are related to a king up to the 3rd degree, they have the right to be cremated sitting. It is then a vertical coffin in the form of a stupa. For high-ranking officials and army officers, the flame that ignites the fire is transferred from the royal palace. For senior officers of the highest rank, the royal guard forms the guard of honor with the traditional mourning music.
I don't know if photos can be posted here because I have taken dozens when I experience these rites and cremations as a guest.
At the Chinese funerals, in a corner of the sala, there is a paper house with a car, gold bars, furniture, TV, fridge, in short, everything that can make life in the afterlife more pleasant. The last evening before the cremation, it is taken in procession to a specially equipped fireplace and set on fire by the eldest son. Well at that moment one sees the tears run free.
Chiangmai also has a large Chinese cemetery.
If you drive into the city from Maerim (107) at the traffic light intersection with the 11, go back towards Maerim and take the first left after 200 m to the large cemetery.
If you go to Samoeng in Maerim, turn right after a few km before gas station(r) and after 1.5 km left into a small road (on the right side a long wall) are some large burial mounds.
This is the old road towards Samoeng and a must to drive.
Past the Prem International school in Maerim are also some beautiful burial mounds.
Greetings Wim.
Korat also has a very large Chinese cemetery near the Immigration Office
and even on ko phangan one can be seen.
That beautiful gate is still there, I live 800 meters from it in ban suan in chonburi, not far from the bypass in north chonburi
In the north, the Christian missionaries used to be quite active, among others among the so-called Hill tribes. The Christian churches and cemeteries that I encounter on my travels are a result of this. So not only the Thai-Chinese are buried.
few weeks I met my Chinese neighbours.
We were invited to view their house under construction.
We also got a tour of their (modest) territory for 30 rai.
Really beautifully landscaped, vegetable garden, orchards, breeding pond and to my surprise a small Chinese cemetery.
Really beautifully landscaped, as in the photo above. It blended in perfectly with the environment.
Pattaya also has a Chinese cemetery. Behind the chinese school on Neun Plubwan Rd. Also accessible from Siam Country Rd.
Along the Sukhumvit road as you drive south (after jomtien) you will also pass a Chinese cemetery. It is somewhat hidden but can be seen from the highway.